The Traditional French Way to Make a Flower Arrangement

When Louis Brunet and Olivier Plusquellec moved from France to the United States, they were dismayed to find that the flower selection was not exactly up to Parisian snuff. In particular, Burnet and Plusquellec were struck by the lack of quality roses readily available for purchase in New York City. Flash forward to the present day, and Brunet and Plusquellec have their own New York City–based flower delivery business. Ode à la Rose is a chic alternative to your general run-of-the-mill 1-800 service, but with a bit of a twist. All of their bouquets are made using the traditional French method of creating a hand-tied bouquet. Confused? So were we. Below, Burnet and Plusquellec detail exactly how the French make flower arrangements.

There is no need for more than three varieties of flowers in a bouquet. The color palette should feel tonal, nonchalant, and not too busy. So choose flowers that go together, and don’t forget foliage, as it complements flowers nicely. Beware of using too much greenery, however; you don’t want to make an arrangement of weeds.

Prune the leaves off your flowers with your hands or with a swift but firm slice of the knife. If you’ve picked fresh flowers, they will still have their guard petals. These are the hardy outer petals that keep the flowers safe from the elements. You can remove the guard petals if you prefer a more polished look.

The French style of creating a bouquet is a classic technique requiring minimal fuss. The main point is that it’s all in the wrist. Start by holding the first three or four flowers between your thumb and index finger, and spin! Add flowers to your liking, and until balance is achieved on each side. The trick to a successful circular bouquet is adding your flowers at the same angle. This will lead to a beautiful twist of stems. Use your base flowers first, sprinkling in greenery here and there, and repeat until the bouquet is balanced.

Starting from the back, wrap your ribbon or raffia around the arrangement, tightly, several times. Once bound, make one small knot and clip the strand short. With fresh flowers, you’ll want to give them room to bloom, so make your tie low.

The length at which you cut your arrangement depends on its final destination. Will it be on display in a highball vase? Will it be presented to your loved one and carried throughout the day? Use small shears to ensure an even cut that’s to your taste (avoid scissors, as they’ll ruin the stems). Finally, prune any excess petals as needed.